Daniel’s Prayer and Gabriel’s Proclamation (Daniel 9:1-27)

The Structure of the Text  The setting Verses 1-3  Daniel’s prayer Verses 4-19 Daniel’s prayer of confession Verses 4-15 Daniel’s prayer of petition Verses  Gabriel’s arrival and announcement Verses Gabriel’s arrival Verses Gabriel’s announcement Verses 24-27

The Setting (9:1-3)  In the first year of Darius  I Daniel understood by books  I set my face unto the Lord God,

Daniel’s Prayer of Confession (9:4-15)  These verses are the expression of Daniel’s repentance and confession of sin, for himself and for his fellow-Jews  The Word of God, as spoken by the prophets and recorded in the Holy Scriptures, is the standard by which Daniel’s sins, and those of his fellow-Israelites, are identified.  Daniel understands Israel’s Babylonian captivity as the curse which has come upon the Jews because they broke God’s covenant made with them at Mount Sinai

Daniel’s Prayer of Petition (9:16-19)  Daniel’s prayer in verses moves from the confession of verses 4-15 to petition.  Daniel’s request is according to God’s promises in Scripture  Daniel’s petition is God-centered.  Daniel’s request is for God to act in His own best interest and glory  Daniel’s request is for grace, mercy, and compassion.  Daniel’s request is for more than what God is going to accomplish in the Jewish Babylonian captives’ return to their land.

The Appearance of Gabriel (9:20-23)  “…even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me…”

The Announcement of Gabriel (9:24-27)  Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city  to finish the transgression,  and to make an end of sins,  and to make reconciliation for iniquity,  and to bring in everlasting righteousness,  and to seal up the vision and prophecy,  and to anoint the most Holy.

Daniel’s Seventy Weeks The Dispensation of Grace – Church Age 7 Weeks62 Weeks 69 Weeks1 Week years+2000 years7 years 49 years to the rebuilding of Jerusalem – Neh years to Messiah The Prince – Dan 9:25-26 The Revelation Zech 14:4 The Tribulation – 3 ½ years The Great Tribulation – 42 months 1260 days

Command to Rebuild  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. After 483 years (62 weeks plus 7 weeks), the city of Jerusalem and the temple would be rebuilt, not with ease but in times of distress.

69 Weeks Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem …unto Messiah the Prince Shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks

Clarence Larkin’s Illustration

“Messiah Cut Off”  At this time, the promised Messiah will be “cut off” and apparently left with nothing.  All hope of His becoming the King appears to be shattered with His being “cut off.”

The Evil Prince  Another prince will arise  The holy city and the sanctuary (the temple) will be destroyed  The “prince” then makes a firm covenant with the masses for “a week”  The “one who makes desolate” is suddenly destroyed.

The Evil Prince Will… and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Clarence Larkin’s Tribulation

Whom the Lord shall Consume  2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Conclusion  Soon, the times of the Gentiles will end, and the events of the last days will commence, leading up to the defeat of God’s foes and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.  Are you ready for the King to come to the earth? Will you stand in the day of judgment? If you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior, your Messiah, then you will not fear His coming; you will welcome Him as King.